Is it a job or a hobby?

So, you hate your day job and are wondering about whether you could make a nice income from your art or craft so you could hand in your notice and just create all day?

Sounds nice, doesn't it.

However, will it be so good when your studio is below freezing, your fingers are so cold that even a cup of tea and thermals aren't defrosting you, and you've got 20 of those things to make and sell by the end of the month just so you can put dinner on the table?

It's not just sitting and making pretty things while thinking happy fluffy arty thoughts, you also have to be able to do marketing, business planning, project management, photography, selling, administration, accountancy, self discipline and motivation ... the list goes on!

You need to build up savings to cover holidays and time off sick, and you have to sort out your own tax and pension. You need to have enough room to create and to store your creations, which may mean hiring studio or storage space.

Even if you are just looking at "selling a few things I have made to get some spending money for my next holiday", or "my friend wants to pay me to make her some cushions", or "it's just one christmas fair as the PTA wanted to bump up the numbers", you are still selling, so you need to register as self employed, which means filling in a tax return. You also need insurance.

If you've read all this and it still excites you, then go for it!

Even if you're just doing one fair, please price your work fairly. Please take into account the time it took you to design, make, photograph and package it, and pay yourself a decent living wage on top of the cost of the materials.

There's nothing to stop you doing special deals for your friends, but do let them know it's a special deal otherwise all their friends will want one at that price too!

There are lots of resources out there to help you if you do want to start your own business. Here's a few of the ones I've found the most useful:

Tax

• http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/

Insurance

• http://craftinsurance.co.uk/
• http://www.cmtia.co.uk/
• http://www.quotelinedirect.com/

Business Resources

• http://virtualbird.co.uk/
• http://www.makeyourwaytosuccess.com/
• http://www.thedesigntrust.co.uk
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/handcraftersgroup/
• https://www.facebook.com/ProfessionalCraftersGuild
• http://marketingdodo.com/
• http://mailchimp.com/

Storage and Studios

• http://bigyellow.co.uk/
• http://artiststudiofinder.org/